Tougher rules urged on lap dancing

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Women's rights campaigners want ministers to classify lap dancing clubs as "sex encounter establishments", rather than them just needing an alcohol licence like ordinary bars and cafes.

And they've been joined by a host of councils and councillors, who have written an open letter to The Times calling for the licensing rules to be changed.

The demand comes on the day a Government consultation on the issue comes to a close.

In June, licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe wrote to every council in England and Wales for their views on the licensing of lap dancing clubs.

Currently, clubs outside London are treated in the same way as any ordinary bar or restaurant and only need an alcohol licence to operate - making it difficult for residents to oppose them. Campaigners say this is because of a loophole in the Licensing Act 2003, and that the number of clubs has doubled since 2004.

Classifying them as sex encounter establishments would give councils much greater say over where, when and how the clubs function. It would also bring them into the same category as sex shops and sex cinemas under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 - venues where nude entertainment is provided for the purpose of sexual stimulation.

Object and the Fawcett Society, groups which both campaign for women's rights, want new legislation to be introduced in the coming parliamentary session.

Object's director Dr Sasha Rakoff said: "Many local authorities have added their voice to growing calls for an end to licensing of lap dancing clubs as cafes.

"Current licensing has acted as a floodgate to the industry whilst making it difficult for local authorities and local people to have a say in this process. It has helped normalise lap dancing clubs and attitudes that encourage seeing women as sex objects, not people."